Profiling of deubiquitinases that control virulence in the pathogenic plant fungus Fusarium graminearum

Eukaryotes have evolved sophisticated post-translational modifications to regulate protein function and numerous biological processes, including ubiquitination controlled by the coordinated action of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and deubiquitinating enzymes (Dubs). However, the function of deubiquitination in pathogenic fungi is largely unknown. Here, the distribution of Dubs in the fungal kingdom was surveyed and their functions were systematically characterized using the phytopathogen Fusarium graminearum as the model species, which causes devastating diseases of all cereal species world-wide. Our findings demonstrate that Dubs are critical for fungal development and virulence, especially the ubiquitin-specific protease 15 (Ubp15). Global ubiquitome analysis and subsequent experiments identified three important substrates of Ubp15, including the autophagy-related protein Atg8, the mitogen-activated protein kinase Gpmk1, and the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthetic protein Tri4. Ubp15 regulates the deubiquitination of the Atg8, thereby impacting its subcellular localization and the autophagy process. Moreover, Ubp15 also modulates the deubiquitination of Gpmk1 and Tri4. This modulation subsequently influences their protein stabilities and further affects the formation of penetration structures and the biosynthetic process of DON, respectively. Collectively, our findings reveal a previously unknown regulatory pathway of a deubiquitinating enzyme for fungal virulence and highlight the potential of Ubp15 as a target for combating fungal diseases.

Clinical and cardiac MRI characteristics: prognosis in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy

AIMS

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is recognized as a type of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). To date, the clinical prognosis of ACM remains a topic of debate in previous studies and there are limited studies on its cardiac MRI characteristics. The aim of this study was to summarize the clinical and MRI features of ACM patients and to identify the predictors of adverse prognosis based on clinical characteristics and MRI imaging findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult patients who were clinically diagnosed with ACM and underwent enhanced CMR between September 2015 and August 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiovascular events, including cardiac-related death, heart transplantation, hospitalization for heart failure and life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or ICD shock). The risk factors associated with these primary end points were identified using multivariable Cox analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 62 ACM patients (50 ± 9 years, 62 men) were included. The majority of patients presented with symptoms of heart failure. Over a median follow-up period of 30.3 months (IQR 12.2-57.7 months), 24 patients reached the primary endpoints. For clinical variables, multivariable analysis showed that drinking duration (HR=1.05; 95%CI:1.01, 1.11; p=0.03) and persistent drinking (HR=3.71; 95%CI:1.46, 9.44; p=0.01) were associated with MACE. For CMR variables, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) percent (HR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.14; p<0.001) stood out as an independent predictor for MACE.

CONCLUSIONS

In ACM patients, persistent drinking and cardiac MRI-defined myocardial scar were associated with adverse outcomes such as cardiac death, heart transplantation, hospitalization for heart failure or life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.

Gender equity of authorship in pulmonary medicine over the past decade

BACKGROUND

Gender disparity in authorship broadly persists in medical literature, little is known about female authorship within pulmonary medicine.

METHODS

A bibliometric analysis of publications from 2012 to 2021 in 12 journals with the highest impact in pulmonary medicine was conducted. Only original research and review articles were included. Names of the first and last authors were extracted and their genders were identified using the Gender-API web. Female authorship was described by overall distribution and distribution by country/region/continent and journal. We compared the article citations by gender combinations, evaluated the trend in female authorship, and forecasted when parity for first and last authorship would be reached. We also conducted a systematic review of female authorship in clinical medicine.

RESULTS

14,875 articles were included, and the overall percentage of female first authors was higher than last authors (37.0% vs 22.2%, p<0.001). Asia had the lowest percentage of female first (27.6%) and last (15.2%) authors. The percentages of female first and last authors increased slightly over time, except for a rapid increase in the COVID-19 pandemic periods. Parity was predicted in 2046 for the first authors and 2059 for the last authors. Articles with male authors were cited more than articles with female authors. However, male-male collaborations significantly decreased, whereas female-female collaborations significantly increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the slow improvement in female authorship over the past decade, there is still a substantial gender disparity in female first and last authorship in high-impact medical journals in pulmonary medicine.

[Expression analysis of inflammatory factors in artificial quartz stone plate processing silicosis patients]

Objective: To investigate the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) in the plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of silicosis patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing. Methods: In January 2022, 10 patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing silicosis and 20 patients with common silicosis who were hospitalized and diagnosed in a hospital at Zhejiang Province from June 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively selected as the research objects, and 30 healthy people were selected as the control group during the same period. Plasma of all subjects and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of all patients were collected. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and were analyzed. Results: The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the plasma of patients with silicosis were higher than those of the control group (P<0.05), and the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the plasma of silicosis patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing were higher than those of common silicosis patients (P<0.05). The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in plasma of artificial quartz stone plate processing silicosis patients were higher than those of common silicosis patients at the same silicon stage (P<0.05). The levels of IL-1β in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of silicosis patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing was higher than that of patients with common silicosis (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in silicosis patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing are higher than those in patients with common silicosis, which may be related to dust components they are exposed to.

Low-Dose Fractionated Radiotherapy Combined with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for T3-4 Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients: The Preliminary Results of a Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Over 70% of NPC patients were local advanced NPC (LANPC). The 5-year local recurrence-free survival rate is only 70% in T3-4 patients. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) was recommended for LANPC patients. Low-dose fractionated radiotherapy (LDFRT), which is <100cGy, induces enhanced cell killing by the hyper-radiation sensitivity phenomenon and potentiates effects of chemotherapy. The synergy of LDFRT and NACT has not been used in the clinical practice and few studies focused on it. A single arm study found the ORR of primary site was improved to 90% for head and neck squamous carcinoma patients treated with LDFRT and NACT. Our previous study found the ORR of lymph nodes was higher in LDFRT group for high-risk LANPC patients. However, another study showed there was no significant difference between LDFRT and control group for LANPC patients. So, we aimed to investigate the potential efficacy of this novel neoadjuvant therapy for T3-4 NPC patients.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 60 pathological confirmed T3-4 (UICC/AJCC8th) NPC patients were prospectively enrolled in our study. They were randomly assigned to two groups. For the LDFRT group, the patients received 3 cycles of NACT (docetaxel 75mg/m2 D1, cisplatin 80mg/m2 D1) with LDFRT, and followed with CCRT. LDFRT was delivered as 50cGy per fraction twice a day to primary site on D1,2 for each cycle of NACT. The patients in the control group only received NACT and followed with CCRT. All the patients underwent IGRT. RECIST criteria and CTCAE 5.0 was used to evaluate the ORR and toxicity at post-NACT and the completion of CCRT.

RESULTS

From February 2022 to December 2022, 60 T3-4 NPC patients were included, and 30 patients for each group. For the primary site, the median volume reduction rate and the ORR after NACT was significantly improved in LDFRT group (69.27% vs 40.10%, p<0.001;93.33% vs 73.33%, p = 0.038). For the median volume reduction rate of primary site and lymph node, it was also obviously improved in LDFRT group (86.59% vs 55.43%, p<0.001). Though there was a tendency of ORR improvement in LDFRT group, but no significant difference (96.67% vs 83.33%, p = 0.195). After the completion of CCRT, the median volume reduction rate of primary site had an increased tendency in LDFRT group (96.16% vs 88.3%, p = 0.065), but the ORR had no statistical significance (LDFRT group: CR 45.8%, PR 54.2%; control group: CR 37.5%, PR 62.5%). For the toxicity, the incidence of grade 3-4 adverse events had no difference between two groups (p = 0.786). No grade 5 adverse events occurred.

CONCLUSION

LDFRT combined with NACT could obviously improve the median volume reduction rate and ORR of primary tumor for T3-4 NPC patients, and the toxicity was similar and tolerable. This novel treatment could be a promising strategy to improve treatment response and needed to be confirmed further.

Long-Term Survival Outcome for Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Receiving Radiation to Primary and Metastatic Sites with Palliative Chemotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

A total of 6% - 8% of NPC patients were initial diagnosed as distant metastatic disease. The median overall survival (OS) is only 10-15 months with palliative chemotherapy for these patients. A phase III study showed that palliative chemotherapy combined with radical radiotherapy to primary site could be a newly effective treatment method for metastatic NPC. Another phase 2, RCT found that the patients who had the solid tumors with 1-5 metastases received standard palliative care plus stereotactic body radiation therapy (SABR), and the 5-year OS were improved to 42.3%. Nevertheless, there was few studies focus on the radiation to both primary site and metastatic lesions. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential clinical benefits for initial diagnosed metastatic NPC patients with radiation to both primary site and distant metastatic lesions plus palliative chemotherapy.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Metastatic NPC patients treated with radiation to both primary site and distant metastatic lesions plus palliative chemotherapy were retrospectively collected in our hospital from May 2008 to May 2022. For treatment group, all patients underwent IGRT according to ICRU reports 50 and 62. The prescribed dose for primary site: GTVT: ≥66Gy, GTVn: ≥66Gy, CTV1: 60-66Gy, CTV2 54-60Gy, CTVln 50-54Gy. And the prescribed dose for distant metastatic lesions was more than 30Gy. For the control group, the patients treated with palliative chemotherapy were selected by propensity score matching from our hospital. The regimen for palliative chemotherapy was cisplatin-based chemotherapy every three weeks (100mg/m2 D1) for both groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the OS. Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 54 metastatic NPC patients with radiation to both primary site and distant metastatic lesions were retrospectively included in the treatment group, and another 54 patients were selected as the control group. The median follow-up time was 52 months. In the treatment group, the median age was 52 years (37-82), male (68%), female (32%), the main metastatic sites were bone (36 cases, 66%), lung (18 cases, 33%) and liver (10 cases, 18%). There were 23 oligometastasis cases and 31 cases. 3-year and 5-year OS in the treatment group were both dramatically improved than control group (63.2% vs 50.6%, p<0.05; 49.6% vs 38.9%, p<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that T stage, liver metastatic lesion and oligometastases were the independent prognostic factors for them.

CONCLUSION

Palliative chemotherapy combined with radiation to primary sites and distant metastatic lesions might improve the OS for initial diagnosed distant metastatic NPC patients. More prospective clinical trials were needed to confirm it further.

The STRIPAK complex orchestrates cell wall integrity signalling to govern the fungal development and virulence of Fusarium graminearum

Striatin-interacting phosphatases and kinases (STRIPAKs) are evolutionarily conserved supramolecular complexes that control various important cellular processes such as signal transduction and development. However, the role of the STRIPAK complex in pathogenic fungi remains elusive. In this study, the components and function of the STRIPAK complex were investigated in Fusarium graminearum, an important plant-pathogenic fungus. The results obtained from bioinformatic analyses and the protein-protein interactome suggested that the fungal STRIPAK complex consisted of six proteins: Ham2, Ham3, Ham4, PP2Aa, Ppg1, and Mob3. Deletion mutations of individual components of the STRIPAK complex were created, and observed to cause a significant reduction in fungal vegetative growth and sexual development, and dramatically attenuae virulence, excluding the essential gene PP2Aa. Further results revealed that the STRIPAK complex interacted with the mitogen-activated protein kinase Mgv1, a key component in the cell wall integrity pathway, subsequently regulating the phosphorylation level and nuclear accumulation of Mgv1 to control the fungal stress response and virulence. Our results also suggested that the STRIPAK complex was interconnected with the target of rapamycin pathway through Tap42-PP2A cascade. Taken together, our findings revealed that the STRIPAK complex orchestrates cell wall integrity signalling to govern the fungal development and virulence of F. graminearum and highlighted the importance of the STRIPAK complex in fungal virulence.

Ubiquitination of acetyltransferase Gcn5 contributes to fungal virulence in Fusarium graminearum

The histone acetyltransferase general control non-depressible 5 (Gcn5) plays a critical role in the epigenetic landscape and chromatin modification for regulating a wide variety of biological events. However, the post-translational regulation of Gcn5 itself is poorly understood. Here, we found that Gcn5 was ubiquitinated and deubiquitinated by E3 ligase Tom1 and deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp14, respectively, in the important plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. Tom1 interacted with Gcn5 in the nucleus and subsequently ubiquitinated Gcn5 mainly at K252 to accelerate protein degradation. Conversely, Ubp14 deubiquitinated Gcn5 and enhanced its stability. In the deletion mutant Δubp14, protein level of Gcn5 was significantly reduced and resulted in attenuated virulence in the fungus by affecting the mycotoxin production, autophagy process, and the penetration ability. Our findings indicate that Tom1 and Ubp14 show antagonistic functions in the control of the protein stability of Gcn5 via post-translational modification and highlight the importance of Tom1-Gcn5-Ubp14 circuit in the fungal virulence. IMPORTANCE Post-translational modification (PTM) enzymes have been reported to be involved in regulating numerous cellular processes. However, the modification of these PTM enzymes themselves is largely unknown. In this study, we found that the E3 ligase Tom1 and deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp14 contributed to the regulation of ubiquitination and deubiquitination of acetyltransferase Gcn5, respectively, in Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight of cereals. Our findings provide deep insights into the modification of acetyltransferase Gcn5 and its dynamic regulation via ubiquitination and deubiquitination. To our knowledge, this work is the most comprehensive analysis of a regulatory network of ubiquitination that impinges on acetyltransferase in filamentous pathogens. Moreover, our findings are important because we present the novel roles of the Tom1-Gcn5-Ubp14 circuit in fungal virulence, providing novel possibilities and targets to control fungal diseases.

[Analysis of chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocyte of medical radiation workers in a tertiary hospital]

Objective: To analyze the level of chromosome aberration in lymphocytes of medical radiation workers and its influencing factors. Methods: From July to September 2020, 252 medical workers in a tertiary hospital were selected as the study subjects and 107 preserviceworkers were selected as the control group. The Chromosomal aberrations of peripheral blood lymphocytes were measured using conventional cytogenetic analysis method, and the differences were analyzed. Results: The frequencies of dicentric puls centric ring, total chromosome-type aberrations, and abnormal detection rate in the radiation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (Z=2.59, 3.74, 9.99, P<0.05). There was significant difference in the frequencies of dicentric plus centric ring and total chromosome-type aberrations among different types of work (χ(2)=8.59, 8.17, 11.39, P<0.05), and the frequencies of dicentric plus centric ring were significantly higher in the interventional radiology group than those in diagnostic radiology (χ(2)=2.90, P<0.05), While the rates of acentric fragment and total chromosome-type aberrations were significantly higher in the nuclear medicine group than those in diagnostic radiology (χ(2)=2.81, 3.19, P<0.05). The difference in the abnormal detection rate of chromosome aberrations between different types of work was statistically significant (P<0.05), and the rate in the interventional radiology group was significantly higher than that in the diagnostic radiology group (χ(2)=7.66, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in chromosome aberration level and abnormal detection rate among different working ages (P>0.05). Poisson regression analysis indicated that the type of work is a risk factor for chromosomal aberration [IRR=2.31 (nuclear medicine group), 1.66 (Radiation therapy), and 1.78 (interventional group) ; P<0.05]. Conclusion: Ionizing radiation causes certain radiation damage to medical radiology workers, and the frequencies of chromosome aberration in the radiation workers of nuclear medicine and interventional radiology groups are relatively high, so radiation protection should be strengthened to ensure the health of relevant workers.

[Value of Improved Mayo Endoscopic Score for evaluating treatment efficacy for active ulcerative colitis]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of Improved Mayo Endoscopic Score (IMES) for evaluation of treatment efficacy for active ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and endoscopic data of 103 patients diagnosed with active UC in Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital from January, 2015 to December, 2020. The severity of endoscopic lesions was determined by Mayo Endoscopic Score and the Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS), and the area of the endoscopic lesions was evaluated based on the Montreal classification system. The IMES was established by combining the MES with the Montreal classification.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis suggested that young patients (<40 years old), patients with extensive disease type (E3), patients with high endoscopic scores (MES=3, UCEIS>4, and IMES>4), and patients receiving advanced drug therapy (with systemic hormones, immunosuppressants, immunomodulators, and biological agents, etc.) had lower clinical and endoscopic remission rates. COX survival analysis showed that IMES≤4 was an independent risk factor for clinical and endoscopic remission. ROC curve indicated that the predictive value of IMSE≤4 for clinical and endoscopic remission (AUC=0.7793 and 0.7095, respectively; P<0.01) was better than that of Montreal (AUC=0.7357 and 0.6847, respectively; P<0.01), MES=2 (AUC=0.6671 and 0.5929, respectively; P<0.01), and UCEIS≤4 (AUC=0.6823 and 0.6459, respectively; P<0.01); IMES=5 had a better predictive value for patients with active UC undergoing colectomy tham E3 and MES=3.

CONCLUSION

IMES has good value in evaluating treatment efficacy for active UC.

[Survey on the current situation and influencing factors of humanistic care ability of outpatient and emergency nurses in tertiary Grade A hospitals in Zhengzhou City]

Objective: To investigate the humanistic care consciousness and ability of outpatient and emergency nurses in tertiary Grade A hospitals in Zhengzhou City. Methods: In June 2021, a total of 345 outpatient and emergency nurses from 6 tertiary Grade A hospitals in Zhengzhou City were selected as the survey objects by random number table method. The humanistic care ability of outpatient and emergency nurses was investigated. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the related factors influencing the humanistic care ability of outpatient and emergency nurses. Results: The total score of humanistic care ability of outpatient and emergency nurses in Zhengzhou tertiary Grade A hospital was (194.18±30.53). The scores of humanistic care ability of outpatient and emergency nurses with different gender, age, educational background, professional title, length of service, night shift frequency, marital status, children's status, employment patterns and average monthly household income were significantly different (P<0.05). Regression analysis showed that education background, length of service, professional title and night shift frequency were independent influencing factors for outpatient and emergency nurses' humanistic care ability (β=0.243, 0.139, 0.163, -0.126, P<0.05) . Conclusion: At present, the humanistic care ability of outpatient and emergency nurses in tertiary Grade A hospitals in Zhengzhou City is still low. Education, length of service, professional title and night shift frequency are independent influencing factors affecting the humanistic care ability of nurses.

Analysis of dietary patterns on cardiovascular risks in children: from a cross-sectional and a longitudinal study

OBJECTIVES

Diet is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), while the evidence about the relationship between dietary pattern (DP) and CVD in children is scarce. This study aims to explore the association between DP and CVD risk in children.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

METHODS

This research was conducted among 4351 children aged 6-12 years old in 2014, then the subgroup children in 2014 were followed up in 2019. Dietary intakes were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. DP was clustered based on 15 food items, and finally, four main DPs were obtained.

RESULTS

Four major DPs were identified: (1) low intake of nuts and algae pattern, (2) low-energy intake pattern, (3) high-energy intake pattern, and (4) regular DP. Compared with the regular diet pattern, the low intake of nuts and algae pattern was associated with the increased risk of higher systolic blood pressure (107.71 mm Hg vs 105.78 mm Hg, P < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (64.98 mm Hg vs 63.91 mm Hg, P = 0.0056), hypertension (odds ratio [OR]:1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10, 1.88; P = 0.0036), dyslipidemia (OR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.28, 4.52; P = 0.0194), and obesity (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.89; P = 0.0003) in children from a cross-sectional aspect in 2014 and it was also found associated with an increased risk of hypertension (OR: 2.67, 95% CI: 1.45, 4.92; P = 0.0017) in 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

Low nuts and algae intake combinations in children seemed associated with increased CVD risk. Such findings are imperative for national development of dietary recommendation for the prevention of CVDs.

Survival Benefit of Chemotherapy According to 21-Gene Recurrence Score in Young Women with Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Initial trials evaluating Oncotype DX, reported as a recurrence score (RS) from 0 to 100, were not powered to evaluate overall survival, and premenopausal women were underrepresented. The purpose of this study was to explore the benefit of chemotherapy according to RS among younger women eligible for oncotype testing.

METHODS

Women aged 40-50, diagnosed with HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer between 2010 and 2017 were selected from the National Cancer Database (NCBD). Patients were grouped by age, RS, nodal status, and chemotherapy receipt. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare unadjusted overall survival (OS) between the groups, and log-rank tests were used to test for a difference between groups. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between select factors and OS.

RESULTS

A total of 15,422 patients met inclusion criteria, 45.3% of whom received chemotherapy. Median follow-up time was 66.4 (50.6-86.6) months. Patients who received chemotherapy were more likely to have higher-stage and higher-grade tumors, tumors that were PR-negative, and have higher RS (p < 0.001 for all). RS was prognostic for OS regardless of nodal status. After adjustment, chemotherapy was associated with a significant improvement in OS only in the pN1 RS 31-50 subgroup (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

RS retains its prognostic value in younger patients with early stage HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. Chemotherapy survival benefit was limited to patients aged 40-50 with pN1 disease and RS of 31-50. Therefore, chemotherapy decision-making should be especially preference-sensitive in women aged 40-50 with intermediate RS, where it may not provide a survival benefit for many women.

Nightly sleep duration predicts grade point average in the first year of college

Academic achievement in the first year of college is critical for setting students on a pathway toward long-term academic and life success, yet little is known about the factors that shape early college academic achievement. Given the important role sleep plays in learning and memory, here we extend this work to evaluate whether nightly sleep duration predicts change in end-of-semester grade point average (GPA). First-year college students from three independent universities provided sleep actigraphy for a month early in their winter/spring academic term across five studies. Findings showed that greater early-term total nightly sleep duration predicted higher end-of-term GPA, an effect that persisted even after controlling for previous-term GPA and daytime sleep. Specifically, every additional hour of average nightly sleep duration early in the semester was associated with an 0.07 increase in end-of-term GPA. Sensitivity analyses using sleep thresholds also indicated that sleeping less than 6 h each night was a period where sleep shifted from helpful to harmful for end-of-term GPA, relative to previous-term GPA. Notably, predictive relationships with GPA were specific to total nightly sleep duration, and not other markers of sleep, such as the midpoint of a student's nightly sleep window or bedtime timing variability. These findings across five studies establish nightly sleep duration as an important factor in academic success and highlight the potential value of testing early academic term total sleep time interventions during the formative first year of college.

Measuring quality of reporting in systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy studies in medical imaging: comparison of PRISMA-DTA and PRISMA

OBJECTIVES

To compare the reporting quality measured by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Diagnostic Test Accuracy studies (PRISMA-DTA) vs the original PRISMA checklist for systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy studies in imaging and survey the use of PRISMA-DTA by researchers and endorsement by journals.

METHODS

Systematic reviews of DTA studies published in 2020 and 2021 in Quartile 1 and Quartile 3 medical imaging journals (defined by Journal Citation Reports) were identified through PubMed. The reporting of each systematic review was assessed using PRISMA-DTA, PRISMA-2009 and PRISMA-2020. The item scores and overall score were compared among the three checklists. We also examined checklist adoption by the included systematic reviews and surveyed checklist endorsement from author instructions of included journals.

RESULTS

A total of 173 systematic reviews from 66 journals were included. The use of PRISMA-DTA, compared with PRISMA-2009 and PRISMA-2020, identified more issues in the reporting of title (proportion of systematic reviews with proper reporting, 27.2% vs 98.8% vs 98.8%), abstract (39.3% vs 97.1% vs 64.7%), eligibility criteria (67.6% vs 94.2% vs 94.2%), search (28.9% vs 72.3% vs 28.9%), definitions for data extraction (14.5% vs 91.9% vs 91.9%), diagnostic accuracy measures (38.2% vs 93.6% vs 93.6%), synthesis of results (28.9% vs 89.6% vs 73.4%) and results of individual studies (40.5% vs 80.3% vs 80.3%). The overall median reporting score measured by PRISMA-DTA (72.0% (interquartile range (IQR), 66.7-77.8%)) was lower than that measured by PRISMA-2009 (88.9% (IQR, 84.0-92.6%)) and similar to that measured by PRISMA-2020 (74.1% (IQR, 66.7-77.8%)). Additionally, PRISMA-DTA was used by only 43 (24.9%) systematic reviews and endorsed by two (3.0%) journals. These trends remained consistent for reviews published in journals with diverse scientific impact.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of PRISMA-DTA may identify more reporting inadequacies compared with the original PRISMA checklists when assessing diagnostic test accuracy systematic reviews, especially in critical sections such as title, abstract and methods. However, this tool is not commonly used by researchers and is inadequately endorsed by imaging journals. Our findings suggest a strong need to use PRISMA-DTA for reporting of diagnostic test accuracy systematic reviews by authors and its endorsement by journals. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

A Real-Time Mobile Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Behavior Before and After Cancer Surgery: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Sedentary behavior (SB) is prevalent after abdominal cancer surgery, and interventions targeting perioperative SB could improve postoperative recovery and outcomes. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a real-time mobile intervention that detects and disrupts prolonged SB before and after cancer surgery, relative to a monitoring-only control condition.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a perioperative SB intervention on objective activity behavior, patient-reported quality of life and symptoms, and 30-day readmissions.

METHODS

Patients scheduled for surgery for metastatic gastrointestinal cancer (n=26) were enrolled and randomized to receive either the SB intervention or activity monitoring only. Both groups used a Fitbit smartwatch and companion smartphone app to rate daily symptoms and collect continuous objective activity behavior data starting from at least 10 days before surgery through 30 days post discharge. Participants in the intervention group also received prompts to walk after any SB bout that exceeded a prespecified threshold, with less frequent prompts on days that patients reported more severe symptoms. Participants completed end-of-study ratings of acceptability, and we also examined adherence to assessments and to walking prompts. In addition, we examined effects of the intervention on objective SB and step counts, patient-reported quality of life and depressive and physical symptoms, as well as readmissions.

RESULTS

Accrual (74%), retention (88%), and acceptability ratings (mean overall satisfaction 88.5/100, SD 9.1) were relatively high. However, adherence to assessments and engagement with the SB intervention decreased significantly after surgery and did not recover to preoperative levels after postoperative discharge. All participants exhibited significant increases in SB and symptoms and decreases in steps and quality of life after surgery, and participants randomized to the SB intervention unexpectedly had longer maximum SB bouts relative to the control group. No significant benefits of the intervention with regard to activity, quality of life, symptoms, or readmission were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative patients with metastatic gastrointestinal cancer were interested in a real-time SB intervention and rated the intervention as highly acceptable, but engagement with the intervention and with daily symptom and activity monitoring decreased significantly after surgery. There were no significant effects of the intervention on step counts, patient-reported quality of life or symptoms, and postoperative readmissions, and there was an apparent adverse effect on maximum SB. Results highlight the need for additional work to modify the intervention to make reducing SB and engaging with mobile health technology after abdominal cancer surgery more feasible and beneficial.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03211806; https://tinyurl.com/3napwkkt.

The COP9 signalosome complex regulates fungal development and virulence in the wheat scab fungus Fusarium graminearum

The COP9 signalosome (Csn) complex is an evolutionarily conserved complex that regulates various important cellular processes. However, the function of the Csn complex in pathogenic fungi remains elusive. Here, the distribution of Csn subunits in the fungal kingdom was surveyed, and their biological functions were systematically characterized in the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum, which is among the top 10 plant fungal pathogens. The results obtained from bioinformatic analyses suggested that the F. graminearum Csn complex consisted of seven subunits (Csn1-Csn7) and that Csn5 was the most conserved subunit across the fungi kingdom. Yeast two-hybrid assays demonstrated that the seven Csn subunits formed a complex in F. graminearum. The Csn complex was localized to both the nucleus and cytoplasm and necessary for hyphal growth, asexual and sexual development and stress response. Transcriptome profiling revealed that the Csn complex regulated the transcription abundance of TRI genes necessary for mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis, subsequently regulating DON production to control fungal virulence. Collectively, the roles of the Csn complex in F. graminearum were comprehensively analyzed, providing new insights into the functions of the Csn complex in fungal virulence and suggesting that the complex may be a potential target for combating fungal diseases.

System-on-chip approach microwave imaging reflectometer on DIII-D tokamak

System-on-chip millimeter wave integrated circuit technology is used on the two-dimensional millimeter-wave imaging reflectometer (MIR) upgrade for density fluctuation imaging on the DIII-D tokamak fusion plasma. Customized CMOS chips have been successfully developed for the transmitter module and receiver module array, covering the 55-75 GHz working band. The transmitter module has the capability of simultaneously launching eight tunable probe frequencies (>0 dBm output power each). The receiver enclosure contains 12 receiver modules in two vertical lines. The quasi-optical local oscillator coupling of previous MIR systems has been replaced with an internal active frequency multiplier chain for improved local oscillator power delivery and flexible installation in a narrow space together with improved shielding against electromagnetic interference. The 55-75 GHz low noise amplifier, used between the receiver antenna and the first-stage mixer, significantly improves module sensitivity and suppresses electronics noise. The receiver module has a 20 dB gain improvement compared with the mini-lens approach and better than -75 dBm sensitivity, and its electronics noise temperature has been reduced from 55 000 K down to 11 200 K. The V-band MIR system is developed for co-located multi-field investigation of MHD-scale fluctuations in the pedestal region with W-band electron cyclotron emission imaging on DIII-D tokamak.

High-resolution Compton spectroscopy using x-ray microcalorimeters

X-ray Compton spectroscopy is one of the few direct probes of the electron momentum distribution of bulk materials in ambient and operando environments. We report high-resolution inelastic x-ray scattering experiments with high momentum and energy transfer performed at a storage-ring-based high-energy x-ray light source facility using an x-ray transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeter detector. The performance was compared with a silicon drift detector (SDD), an energy-resolving semiconductor detector, and Compton profiles were measured for lithium and cobalt oxide powders relevant to lithium-ion battery research. Spectroscopic analysis of the measured Compton profiles demonstrates the high-sensitivity to the low-Z elements and oxidation states. The line shape analysis of the measured Compton profiles in comparison with computed Hartree-Fock profiles is usually limited by the resolution of the semiconductor detector. We have characterized an x-ray TES microcalorimeter detector for high-resolution Compton scattering experiments using a bending magnet source at the Advanced Photon Source with a double crystal monochromator, providing monochromatic photon energies near 27.5 keV. The momentum resolution below 0.16 atomic units (a.u.) was measured, yielding an improvement of more than a factor of 7 over a state-of-the-art SDD for the same scattering geometry. Furthermore, the lineshapes of narrow valence and broad core electron profiles of sealed lithium metal were clearly resolved using an x-ray TES compared to smeared and broadened lineshapes observed when using the SDD. High-resolution Compton scattering using the energy-resolving area detector shown here presents new opportunities for spatial imaging of electron momentum distributions for a wide class of materials with applications ranging from electrochemistry to condensed matter physics.

Development of an IT tool to support post-market surveillance and expert panels in detecting sentinel signals relevant to serious incidents in high-risk medical devices: pilot on italian data

Introduction

The EU Medical Device Regulation 2017/745, in force since May 26th 2021, defines new rules for medical device (MD) certification and post-market surveillance (PMS). For high-risk implantable MD, in the certification process notified bodies are obliged to consult clinical Expert Panels (EP) that could decide to proceed for an extensive review of the supporting clinical data provided by the manufacturer, also in view of sentinel signals, such as significantly increased rate of reported serious incidents for a specific MD groups.

Purpose

1) To develop an ICT tool to automatically collect and display in an aggregated way the accessible curated regulatory information on MD alerts and recalls to capture possible trends in reported incidents that could be used both for scientific analysis and as information source to EP. 2) To conduct a pilot feasibility study on the Italian data, characterized already by the same European Medical Device Nomenclature (EMDN), organized in a multi-level hierarchical tree code to define a MD, as it will be used in Europe.

Methods

Web scraping was used to retrieve data of 7622 safety notices (SN) from 2009 to 2021 from the Italian Ministry of Health website. The EMDN code was missing in 68% of cases: to retrieve it, the MD best match was searched within a separate public list of about 1.5M MD on the Italian market containing the EMDN code, using Natural Language Processing techniques and pairwise entity resolution with Cosine similarity to identify similar manufacturers and MD. The performance of this approach was tested on the 2440 SN for which the EMDN code was available as gold standard. A mash up was then performed to integrate data, and to present it to the final user through a graphical interface.

Results

The implemented entity resolution method was able to correctly assign the correct manufacturer to the MD in each SN in 99% of the cases. Moreover, the correct EMDN code at level 1 (22 categories available) was assigned in 2382 SN (97.62%), at level 2 (146 anatomical or functional groups available) in 2366 SN (96.97%), at level 3 (multiple types available) in 2304 SN (94.45%). The developed interface (Figure 1) allows querying the database by manufactures, devices, type of SN (1a), and selecting the EMDN nomenclature up to the fourth level (1b). As a result, the relevant information is shown, including trends over the selected period and the link to the SN on the original website (2).

Conclusions

The proposed approach was able to cope with the uncompleteness of the publicly available data in the SN, thus allowing proper matching of MD with its EMDN code up to level 3 with very good performance. In this way, grouping of SN relevant to a specific MD category/group/type could be used as possible sentinel for increased rates in reported serious incidents in high-risk MD. Extension of this approach to aggregate SN from other EU nations could result in an effective support tool in PMS.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): EU Horizon 2020 - Project CORE-MD

The role of N6-methyladenosine methylation in environmental exposure-induced health damage

The health risks caused by environmental pollution have long been of substantial concern. With the development of epigenetics, a large number of studies have demonstrated that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is involved in the regulation of various important life activities associated with various diseases. Recent studies have revealed that m6A plays a key role in health damage caused by environmental exposure by regulating post-transcriptional gene expression. Therefore, our study outlined the effects of environmental pollutant exposure on m6A methylation and its regulator levels. Moreover, we found that m6A methylation modifications were involved in the development of various health damages by regulating important life activities in vivo, such as reactive oxygen species imbalance, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and inflammatory processes. More importantly, we delved into the regulatory mechanisms of m6A methylation dysregulation in environmental pollution-induced diseases. Finally, by examining the published literature, we found that methyltransferase-like protein 3 (METTL3) and fat mass- and obesity-associated protein (FTO) were potentially used as biomarkers of health damage induced by particulate matter exposure and heavy metal exposure, respectively. The current studies on regulators of METTL3 and FTO were more promising to bring new perspectives for the treatment of environmental health-related diseases.

Early pregnancy regulates the expression of prolactin and its receptor in the thymus, the liver, the spleen and lymph nodes in sheep

As a pituitary hormone, prolactin (PRL) is also synthesized by immune system cells, and exerts its effects on the immune system by binding to its receptor (PRLR) via endocrine and paracrine/autocrine pathways. The immune organs adapt to the presence of fetal alloantigens during pregnancy, and the immune system is composed of primary organs and secondary organs. The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of early pregnancy on expression of PRL and PRLR in maternal immune organs in sheep. In this study, the thymus, lymph node, the spleen and the liver were sampled at day 16 of the estrous cycle, and at days 13, 16, and 25 of pregnancy in ewes. Expression of PRL and PRLR was analyzed through quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Our data showed that there were an upregulation of PRL and PRLR in the thymus, lymph node and the spleen, and a downregulation in the liver during early pregnancy in ewes. In conclusion, it is reported for the first time that early pregnancy has tissue specific effects on expression of PRL isoform and PRLR isoform in the thymus, lymph node, the spleen and the liver, which may be owing to these organs exerting different functions during early pregnancy, and necessary for the successful pregnancy in sheep.

The National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade poloidal high-k scattering system pitch angle design modifications

A 693 GHz, eight-channel, poloidal high-k (k refers to wavenumber) collective scattering system is under development for the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade device. It will replace the previous 280 GHz, five-channel, tangential scattering system to study high-k electron density fluctuations, thereby providing a measurement of the k_θ-spectrum of both electron temperature gradient and ion temperature gradient modes. A tool is under development to calculate the wavenumber that exists in the presence of strong magnetic pitch angles. We use this tool to motivate a new receiver optical design for significantly improved performance, details of which are presented herein.

Optimising diffusion-weighted imaging of the thyroid gland using dedicated surface coil

AIM

To assess the feasibility of applying field-of-view (FOV) optimised and constrained undistorted single-shot (FOCUS) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the thyroid gland by comparing its image quality with conventional DWI (C-DWI) qualitatively and quantitatively using a dedicated surface coil exclusively designed for the thyroid gland at 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this prospective study, 32 healthy volunteers who had undergone 3 T the thyroid gland MRI with FOCUS-DWI and C-DWI were enrolled. Two independent reviewers assessed the overall image quality, artefacts, sharpness, and geometric distortion based on a five-point Likert scale. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were quantified for both sequences. Interobserver agreement, qualitative scores, and quantitative parameters were compared between two sequences.

RESULTS

Agreement between the two readers was good for FOCUS-DWI (κ = 0.714-0.778) and moderate to good for C-DWI (κ = 0.525-0.672) in qualitative image quality assessment. Qualitatively, image quality (overall image quality, artefacts, sharpness, and geometric distortion) was significantly better in FOCUS-DWI than that in the C-DWI (all p<0.05); however, quantitatively, FOCUS-DWI had significantly lower SNRs (p<0.001) and CNRs (p=0.012) compared with C-DWI. The ADC value on FOCUS-DWI was significantly higher than that on C-DWI (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

FOCUS-DWI depicted the thyroid gland with significantly better image quality qualitatively and less ghost artefacts, but had significantly lower SNR and CNR quantitatively, compared with C-DWI, suggesting that both DWI sequences have advantages and could be chosen for different purposes.

[IL-1β inhibitor sensitizes to olaparib in homologous recombination deficiency proficient ovarian cancer cells]

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of combined strategy of poly adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) inhibitor on homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)-proficient ovarian cancer cells. Methods: (1) HRD-proficient ovarian cancer cell lines OVCAR3 and CAOV3 were treated with PARP inhibitor olaparib. Screening by RNA sequencing analysis, the expression level of IL-1β was validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot. (2) The dose-response curves of IL-1β inhibitor diacerein were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays in OVCAR3 and CAOV3 cells. CCK-8 assays were further applied to determine the viabilities of OVCAR3 and CAOV3 cells. (3) To evaluate the synergistic effects of olaparib and IL-1β inhibitor in vivo, the transplanted ovarian cancer model was constructed. BALB/c-nude mice (n=16) were injected intraperitoneally with 1×107 OVACR3 cells labelled with luciferase (OVCAR3-Luc). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay was performed to determine nuclear antigen associated with cell proliferation (Ki-67) expression. (4) Blood routine tests, kidney and liver function tests were performed to analyze the toxic reaction of different drug treatments. The potential drug-induced injuries of vital organs including heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys of nude mice were determined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Results: (1) The RNA sequencing results showed that the mRNA level of IL-1β was the most significantly increased among the 25 differentially expressed genes in OVCAR3 cells treated with olaparib, compared to the negative control group. Olaparib treatment significantly promoted the secretion and expression of IL-1β protein in both OVACR3 and CAOV3 cells by ELISA [(36.2±3.5) and (49.5±3.5) pg/ml, respectively; all P<0.001] and western bolt (2.87±0.37 and 2.05±0.08, respectively; all P<0.01). (2) The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of IL-1β inhibitor was determined as follows: 75 μmol/L for OVACR3 cells and 100 μmol/L for CAOV3 cells. The treatments were divided into four groups including control group, olaparib monotherapy group, IL-1β inhibitor monotherapy group and the combination therapy group. The cell viabilities of each group in OVCAR3 and CAOV3 were determined by CCK-8 assay. The data in each group were showed as follows for OVCAR3 and CAOV3 cells: (100.0±0.4)% and (100.0±3.5)% in control group; (63.1±6.2)% and (63.3±3.8)% in olaparib monotherapy group; (61.6±4.7)% and (63.8±3.5)% in IL-1β inhibitor monotherapy group; and (32.9±5.2)% and (30.0±1.3)% in the combination therapy group. The viability assay showed that the combined strategy exhibited a significant inhibition effect on OVACR3 and CAOV3 cells, compared to the monotherapy group and the control group (all P<0.01). (3) All mice with transplanted tumors of HRD-proficient ovarian cancer cells were randomly divided into four groups, and treated with four different treatments as mentioned above, respectively. After 4 weeks (on day 29), the vivo fluorescence imaging were determined. The results showed that the amount of fluorescence of transplanted tumors was mostly decreased in the combination therapy group [(0.5±0.4)×1010 p/s], compared to the control group [(4.2±1.0)×1010 p/s] or the groups treated with any single drug [(3.1±0.9)×1010, (2.2±0.9)×1010 p/s; all P<0.05]. Mice were then sacrificed under anesthesia, and all transplanted tumors detached and weighed for further investigation. The weight of transplanted tumors was significantly decreased in the combination therapy group [(0.09±0.03) g], compared to that in control group [(0.25±0.05) g] or groups treated with any single drug [(0.17±0.03), (0.19±0.04) g; all P<0.05]. The measurement of the expression of Ki-67 showed that it was significantly decreased in the combination therapy group (0.33±0.10), compared to that in the control group (1.00±0.20) or monotherapy groups (0.76±0.07, 0.77±0.12; all P<0.05). (4) There were no significant differences of body weights, blood routine test, renal and liver function tests among mice with different treatments (all P>0.05). Moreover, no significant injuries were observed in the vital organs among the four groups. Conclusions: The combination of olaparib and IL-1β inhibitor synergistically exhibits significant cytotoxicity in HRD-proficient ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, the blood routine and blood biochemistry results confirmed the biosafety of the combination of olaparib and IL-1β inhibitor.

[Improved Mayo Endoscopic Score has a higher value for evaluating clinical severity of ulcerative colitis]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of Improved Mayo Endoscopic Score (IMES) for evaluation of the clinical severity of ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and endoscopic data of 167 patients diagnosed with UC in Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital from January, 2015 to November, 2021. The severity of endoscopic lesions was determined by Mayo Endoscopic Score (MES, 0-3 points) and the Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) score (0-8 points), and the scope of endoscopic lesions was evaluated based on the Montreal classification system. The IMES was established by combining the MES with the Montreal classification.

RESULTS

The IMSE showed stronger correlations with modified Truelove and Witts Disease Severity, Mayo score and partial Mayo score (r=0.712, 0.784, and 0.703, respectively) than MES (r=0.642, 0.754, and 0.604, respectively), Montreal classification (r=0.598, 0.628, and 0.603, respectively) and UCEIS (r= 0.670, 0.767, and 0.677, respectively). ROC curve analysis showed that IMES was superior to MES, Montreal and UCEIS in diagnosis of severe and moderate- to-severe UC. IMES also showed stronger correlations with the laboratory indicators including CRP (r=0.583), WBC (r=0.235), HB (r=-0.280), PLT (r=0.352), ALB (r=-0.396) and ESR (r=0.471) than MES and Montreal classification. An IMES score of 5 was of greater value than a MES score of 3, E3, and UCEIS≥6 for predicting the administration of systemic hormones, immunosuppressants, or surgery in the near future.

CONCLUSION

IMES can better reflect the clinical severity of UC and has good correlations with the laboratory indicators of the patients.

Cone beam computed tomography volumetric airway changes after orthognathic surgery: a systematic review

The aim of this systematic review was to provide a structured overview of three-dimensional airway volume changes in relation to various orthognathic surgeries. Clinical human studies performing pre- and postoperative three-dimensional airway volume assessments to investigate volumetric changes of the airway after orthognathic surgery were included. Pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied in an extensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science electronic databases. The cut-off date was set to January 1, 2022. Forty-one articles reporting retrospective and prospective case-control and case series studies were included. All studies were determined to be of medium quality (moderate risk of bias). The included studies were categorized by type of intervention. Pre- and postoperative volumes were extracted from the available data, and volume changes as a percentage of the preoperative levels were calculated. Isolated mandibular setback surgery generally decreased the airway volume. Isolated maxillary or mandibular advancement, bimaxillary advancement, and surgically assisted maxillary expansion generally increased the airway volume in the total airway and oropharynx, among which the effect of bimaxillary advancement surgery appeared most significant. High heterogeneity exists in the terminology and definitions of the airway and its segments. A more uniform methodology for airway volume measurement is needed to provide an insight into the impact on the airway of specific types of surgical intervention. In conclusion, airway volumes are affected after orthognathic surgery, which may be of clinical significance, especially in patients who are predisposed to obstructive sleep apnoea.

Atomic structure and Mott nature of the insulating charge density wave phase of 1T-TaS2

Using x-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis and computer modeling, we explore structure models for the complex charge density wave (CDW) phases of layered 1T-TaS₂that both well capture their atomic-level features and are amenable to electronic structure calculations. The models give the most probable position of constituent atoms in terms of 3D repetitive unit cells comprising a minimum number of Ta-S layers. Structure modeling results confirm the emergence of star-of-David (SD) like clusters of Ta atoms in the high-temperature incommensurate (IC) CDW phase and show that, contrary to the suggestions of recent studies, the low-temperature commensurate (C) CDW phase expands upon cooling thus reducing lattice strain. The C-CDW phase is also found to preserve the stacking sequence of Ta-S layers found in the room temperature, nearly commensurate (NC) CDW phase to a large extent. DFT based on the PDF refined model shows that bulk C-CDW 1T-TaS₂also preserves the insulating state of individual layers of SD clusters, favoring the Mott physics description of the metal-to-insulator (NC-CDW to C-CDW) phase transition in 1T-TaS₂. Our work highlights the importance of using precise crystal structure models in determining the nature of electronic phases in complex materials.

Effect of voxel size in cone-beam computed tomography on surface area measurements of dehiscences and fenestrations in the lower anterior buccal region

Objectives

This study aims to assess whether different voxel sizes in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) affected surface area measurements of dehiscences and fenestrations in the mandibular anterior buccal region.

Materials and methods

Nineteen dry human mandibles were scanned with a surface scanner (SS). Wax was attached to the mandibles as a soft tissue equivalent. Three-dimensional digital models were generated with a CBCT unit, with voxel sizes of 0.200 mm (VS200), 0.400 mm (VS400), and 0.600 mm (VS600). The buccal surface areas of the six anterior teeth were measured (in mm²) to evaluate areas of dehiscences and fenestrations. Differences between the CBCT and SS measurements were determined in a linear mixed model analysis.

Results

The mean surface area per tooth was 88.3 ± 24.0 mm², with the SS, and 94.6 ± 26.5 (VS200), 95.1 ± 27.3 (VS400), and 96.0 ± 26.5 (VS600), with CBCT scans. Larger surface areas resulted in larger differences between CBCT and SS measurements (− 0.1 β, SE = 0.02, p < 0.001). Deviations from SS measurements were larger with VS600, compared to VS200 (1.3 β, SE = 0.05, P = 0.009). Fenestrations were undetectable with CBCT.

Conclusions

CBCT imaging magnified the surface area of dehiscences in the anterior buccal region of the mandible by 7 to 9%. The larger the voxel size, the larger the deviation from SS measurements. Fenestrations were not detectable with CBCT.

Clinical relevance

CBCT is an acceptable tool for measuring dehiscences but not fenestrations. However, CBCT overestimates the size of dehiscences, and the degree of overestimation depends on the actual dehiscence size and CBCT voxel size employed.

[Exploration of construction mode of real-world data system]

Real-world data study evidence, as an important part of evaluating the safety and effectiveness of drugs and devices, has attracted increasing attention from regulatory agencies and scholars both at home and abroad, and has become an essential source of evidence to support the development and review of drugs and devices. This paper systematically discusses the process and mode of real-world data system construction based on the preliminary practical study of real-world data according to the guidelines/technical specifications issued by regulatory agencies and academic research results. This study result provides not only reference for the generation of clinical evaluation evidence to meet the regulatory requirements for innovative drugs and devices, but also reference for researchers, sponsors and regulators to carry out real-world data studies successfully.

Erratum to "An automated controlled-release device for intravaginal hormone delivery" (JDS Commun. 1:15-20)

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3168/jdsc.2020-18816.].

[A comparative study of artificial intelligence nasal polyp classification based on whole-slide imaging and JESREC diagnostic criteria]

Objective: To explore the types and clinical characteristics of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) based on artificial intelligence and whole-slide imaging (WSI), and to explore the consistency of the diagnostic criteria of the Japanese epidemiological survey of refractory eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (JESREC) in Chinese CRSwNP patients. Methods: The data of 136 patients with CRSwNP (101 males and 35 females, aging 14 to 70 years) who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery from 2018 to 2019 in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were analysed retrospectively. The preoperative clinical characteristics of patients were collected, such as visual analogue scale (VAS) of nasal symptoms, peripheral blood inflammatory cell count, total immunoglobulin E (IgE), Lund-Kennedy score and Lund-Mackay score. The proportion of inflammatory cells such as eosinophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells and neutrophils were calculated on the WSI of each patient through artificial intelligence chronic rhinosinusitis evaluation platform 2.0 (AICEP 2.0), and the specific type of nasal polyps was then obtained as eosinophilic CRSwNP (eCRSwNP) or non-eosinophilic CRSwNP (non-eCRSwNP). In addition, the JESREC diagnostic criteria was used to classify the nasal polyps, and the classification results were compared with the current gold standard for nasal polyps diagnosis (pathological diagnosis based on WSI). The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic criteria of JESREC were evaluated. The data were expressed in M (Q₁, Q₃) and statistically analyzed by SPSS 17.0. Results: There was no significant difference between eCRSwNP and non-eCRSwNP in age distribution, gender, time of onset, total VAS score, Lund-Kennedy score or Lund-Mackay score. However, there was a significant difference in the ratio of nasal polyp inflammatory cells (eosinophils 40.5% (22.8%, 54.7%) vs 2.5% (1.0%, 5.3%), neutrophils 0.3% (0.1%, 0.7%) vs 1.3% (0.5%, 3.6%), lymphocytes 49.9% (39.3%, 65.9%) vs 82.0% (72.8%, 87.5%), plasma cells 5.1% (3.6%, 10.5%) vs 13.0% (7.4%, 16.3%), χ² value was 9.91, 4.66, 8.28, 5.06, respectively, all P<0.05). In addition, eCRSwNP had a significantly higher level of proportion of allergic symptoms (nasal itching and sneezing), asthma, peripheral blood eosinophil and total IgE (all P<0.05). The overall accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the JESREC diagnostic criteria was 74.3%, 81.3% and 64.3%, respectively. Conclusions: The eCRSwNP based on artificial intelligence and WSI has significant high level of allergic symptoms, asthma, peripheral blood eosinophils and total IgE, and the percentages of inflammatory cells in nasal polyps are different from that of non-eCRSwNP. The JESREC diagnostic criteria has good consistency in our research.

[Green channel construction mode and development of stroke center in China]

Stroke poses a social and economic burden worldwide.Intravenous thrombolytic therapy and endovascular interventional therapy are recommended as early as possible for patients with acute ischemic stroke in many national and international guidelines, however, their clinical applications are limited due to their strong time dependence.To date, the treatment of acute stroke in China has many problems, such as backward development of hospital treatment process and shortage of stroke professionals.Establishing a complete stroke green channel and maintaining its smooth operation contributes to the most important and effective way to promote thrombolytic therapy, which requires setting a clear target time, appropriately adjusting the hospital layout and hardware and software investment, attaching importance to team building and clear job responsibilities.Moreover, the most important task is to improve the green channel process through replacing the "serial mode" with the "parallel mode", making full use of the first aid map of stroke, bridging the gap between pre-hospital and in-hospital treatment, and popularizing stroke-related knowledge.In recent years, considerable progress has been made in the construction of stroke green channel in China.The implementation of the above-mentioned reform mode may minimize pre-hospital and in-hospital delays, expand the benefit population of stroke and thus improve the early treatment rate of acute ischemic stroke.

Genetic characterization and clinical characteristics of bovine viral diarrhea viruses in cattle herds of Heilongjiang province, China

BACKGROUND

Heilongjiang province is the main cattle-producing area in China, and molecular epidemiological studies of bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDV) in cattle have not been performed in the province.

AIMS

The objective of this research was to determine the genetic and clinical characteristics of BVDV in cattle.

METHODS

Fifty-three BVDV-positive clinical samples were collected from 22 cattle farms in Heilongjiang, and the 5´-untranslated region (5´-UTR) was used to carry out a phylogenetic analysis of the viruses.

RESULTS

The similarity of the 5´-UTR sequences among these BVDVs was 84.2%-100%, and the phylogenetic analysis showed that all viruses belong to the BVDV-1 species, which is classified into five subtypes: BVDV-1b (47.17%, n=25), 1c (15.09%, n=8), 1d (16.98%, n=9), 1 m (3.77%, n=2), and 1o (16.98%, n=9). The statistical results showed that the BVDV-1b subtype had a positive correlation with gastrointestinal disease (P<0.05; 95% CI: 1.19 to 3.34). There were up to three or four BVDV-1 subtypes in some dairy cattle farms, but farms with a single subtype were prevalent (5/10).

CONCLUSION

BVDV-1b is predominant in cattle herds of Heilongjiang province, China, and shows a positive correlation with gastrointestinal disease. BVDV-1o was found for the first time in Chinese cattle, which increased the complex distribution of BVDV-1 subtypes in cattle herds of China.

Inheritance of physico-chemical properties and ROS generation by carbon quantum dots derived from pyrolytically carbonized bacterial sources

Bacteria are frequently used in industrial processes and nutrient supplementation to restore a healthy human microflora, but use of live bacteria is often troublesome. Here, we hypothesize that bacterially-derived carbon-quantum-dots obtained through pyrolytic carbonization inherit physico-chemical properties from probiotic and pathogenic source-bacteria. Carbon-quantum-dots carbonized at reaction-temperatures below 200 ​°C had negligible quantum-yields, while temperatures above 220 ​°C yielded poor water-suspendability. Fourier-transform infrared-spectroscopy demonstrated preservation of amide absorption bands in carbon-quantum-dots derived at intermediate temperatures. X-ray photoelectron-spectroscopy indicated that the at%N in carbon-quantum-dots increased with increasing amounts of protein in source-bacterial surfaces. Carbonization transformed hydrocarbon-like bacterial surface compounds into heterocyclic aromatic-carbon structures, evidenced by a broad infrared absorption band (920-900 ​cm⁻¹) and the presence of carbon in C–C functionalities of carbon-quantum-dots. The chemical composition of bacterially-derived carbon-quantum-dots could be explained by the degradation temperatures of main bacterial cell surface compounds. All carbon-quantum-dots generated reactive-oxygen-species, most notably those derived from probiotic lactobacilli, carrying a high amount of surface protein. Concluding, amide functionalities in carbon-quantum-dots are inherited from surface proteins of source-bacteria, controlling reactive-oxygen-species generation. This paves the way for applications of bacterially-derived carbon-quantum-dots in which reactive-oxygen-species generation is essential, instead of hard-to-use live bacteria, such as in food supplementation or probiotic-assisted antibiotic therapy.

•

Pyrolytic carbonization of bacteria between 200°C and 220°C yields water-suspendable CQDs.

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Bacterially-derived CQDs inherit amide functionalities from bacterial cell surface proteins.

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Hydrocarbon-like bacterial surface compounds give heterocyclic aromatic-carbon structures in bacterially-derived CQDs.

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Bacterially-derived CQDs possess graphitic nitrogen.

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Zeta potentials of CQDs relate with nitrogen occurrence in CQDs.

N6-methyladenosine RNA modification and its interaction with regulatory non-coding RNAs in colorectal cancer

As one of the most common forms of RNA modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification has attracted increasing research interest in recent years. This reversible RNA modification added a new dimension to the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. In colorectal cancer (CRC), the role of m6A modification has been extensively studied, not only on mRNAs but also on non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). In the present review, we depicted the role of m6A modification in CRC, systematically elaborate the interaction between m6A modification and regulatory ncRNAs in function and mechanism. Moreover, we discussed the potential applications in clinical.

[Combined autologous fascia transplantation with autologous fascia and fat injection into the vocal fold for sulcus vocalis]

Objective: To assess voice outcomes after surgical technique for typeⅡ and type Ⅲ sulcus vocalis. Methods: The data of 39 cases of bilateral type Ⅱ-Ⅲ sulcus vocalis were collected and analyzed retrospectively. There were 29 patients with bilateral type Ⅲ sulcus vocalis, and 10 patients with type Ⅲ on one side and typeⅡon the contralateral vocal cord. All of vocal cords were applied autologous anterior rectus sheath fascia transplant, and 68 sides of vocal cords with type Ⅲ sulcus vocalis were also applied autologous fascia and fat injection. Two male patients, whose results from transplant and injection were not satisfied, were carried out cricothyroid myotomy one year after surgery. Subjective and objective voice evaluations were performed before and after operation. Results: One patient was found mild adhesion on the middle part of vocal cords, and all the other 38 patients recovered well and there were no complications. During 5-6 weeks after surgery, breathy voice was the feather. Then vocal quality and glottal closure were gradually improved and became steady in 12 months. It showed that all the subjective and objective parameters, except for fundamental frequency, were significantly improved (P<0.05), and obvious improvement was achieved in glottal closures and mucosal waves in 35 patients. Three patients obtained no significant vocal quality improvement after transplant and injection surgery, and two male patients of them achieved improvement in mucosal waves and MPT after bilateral cricothyroid muscle amputations. One patient, who was revealed with mild adhesion, achieved a satisfied result after adhesion separation and suture. All the patients who originally had feelings of fatigue and voice discontinuity during phonation gained significant improvement postoperatively. Steady function with no complications was observed during the 36 months (up to 5 years in 20 patients) follow-up period. Conclusions: Autologous fascia transplantation combined fascia and fat injcetion can lead to excellent long-term results, and it is a good treatment option for pathologic sulcus vocalis. Cricothyroid muscle amputations can reduce the tension, and may improve vibration property of the vocal fold in patients with pathological sulcus vocalis.

Precision of orthodontic cephalometric measurements on ultra low dose-low dose CBCT reconstructed cephalograms

Objectives

To analyze differences in variation of orthodontic diagnostic measurements on lateral cephalograms reconstructed from ultra low dose-low dose (ULD-LD) cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans (RLC) as compared to variation of measurements on standard lateral cephalograms (SLC), and to determine if it is justifiable to replace a traditional orthodontic image set for an ULD-LD CBCT with a reconstructed lateral cephalogram.

Material and methods

ULD-LD CBCT images and SLCs were made of forty-three dry human skulls. From the ULD-LD CBCT dataset, a lateral cephalogram was reconstructed (RLC). Cephalometric landmarks (13 skeletal and 7 dental) were identified on both SLC and RLC twice in two sessions by two calibrated observers. Thirteen cephalometric variables were calculated. Variations of measurements, expressed as standard deviations of the 4 measurements on SLC and RLC, were analyzed using a paired sample t-test. Differences in the number of observations deviating ≥ 2.0 mm or degrees from the grand mean between SLC and RLC were analyzed using a McNemar test.

Results

Mean SDs for 7 out of 13 variables were significantly smaller for SLCs than those for RLCs, but differences were small. For 9 out of 13 variables, there was no significant difference between SLC and RLC for the number of measurements outside the range of 2 mm or degrees.

Conclusions

Based on the lower radiation dose and the small differences in variation in cephalometric measurements on reconstructed LC compared to standard dose LC, ULD-LD CBCT with reconstructed LC should be considered for orthodontic diagnostic purposes.

Clinical relevance

ULD-LD CBCT with reconstructed LC should be considered for orthodontic purposes.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00784-021-04127-9.